RUA THE IMPOSTOR,

Gisborne Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1792, 25 June 1906, Page 3

RUA THE IMPOSTOR,

A SUNDAY AT HOME.

KING’S ARRIVAL DELAYED FOR A WEEK.

A large crowd of natives and Earopeans gathered at Pakawhai yesterday in the vioinity of the oamp of the impostor Baa. The day being beaatifally fine, the drive *jj&)t was very pleasant, and there was plenty of fun for those so disposed. With looal supporters, Baa’s foroe all told amounts to about 84, though of that number the enthusiasm of many is guaranteed to wane direotly the food supplies fall short. In the afternoon Baa undertook to deliver an address. He spoke on the road,wa}/T his own followers being ranged on •“gf side, while the sceptical natives and lock their plaoes on the oppenile side. Bua oame to the front like a veteran politician. Physically ho is an admirable ’Stamp of man, and he has all the ad- ' vantages of the Maori orator without any display of the prancing and exaggerated gestures of the old lime warrior. Without any hesitation Bua declared that he was the Almighty. A ribald outburst of laughter from the assembled natives had no more effeot on the unabashed Bua than would a small boy’s voioe in the gallery have on a ■ political candidate. The eo-oalied prophet waited in a dignified manner until the laughter had subsided, and then quietly proceeded in keep- ■ with his manner of entry on the .tform. When ho first came forward -ave a stately bow to those around, and ->'th got on to his subject, noted Scripture with amazing glibt iip )lr[ ,_J showed how it oame about that §®|ff jie twelfth prophet. Although he calls ~himself Jesus Christ, he carefully ' explained that he had not yet been endowed with all the powers of the Al- j mighty. When he gets the power which must oomo to him shortly he states that he will be able to heal the eiok, raise the dead, and perform miracles at will. These statements causing muoh rude laughter, Bua submitted proof of bow faith in him worked out in practice. A follower of his who had not sufficient faith had a horse which suddenly refused to bear its allotted burden. Bua told the man that if he had faith the horse would get well ; » the man thereupon acquired faith, and next morning the horse was in fine fettle. A bystander suggested that the horse been overworked and ODly wanted a spell, but Bua regarded the flippant inter- - jeotor with disdain. Begarding the ohuroh, Bua declared that the Almighty had told him he must get the key. An intelligent native standing by said that he had the key ; the Almighty had not told him to give it to Bua, and that he did not intend to. Qa the point as to why J£ing Edward ,/ was not arriving up to time, Bua explained "v {hat next Saturday was the due date, and we offered no reason for the delay. He : reiterated the assuranoe that the King was |9 bring the valuable diamonds with him ;

also that ho was to presont Eua with Now Zealand. One young native said that the King could not bo to band by nest Saturday, as be himself had rood only the other day a cablegram in the Timks sent from London by the King, sympathising with the death of Mr Seddon. Eua conveniently overlooked these little points.

Oao native suggested that the King must bo coming by balloon, and others in conversation among themselves affirmed that Bua was quito as big a humbug ns they had thought ho was, but that ho was [ real good fuu, In ovory passing oloud Eua found a message, nod triumphantly pointed to eaoh ono in proof of wbat ho had boon saying. Mounted constable Irvine was present and was most respectfully referred to by Eua. The latter said that his mission was one of peace, and that his followers came with no arms. They had only had a couple of fowling pieces to obtain j game in the bush. Be offered to let anyone searoh the tent in oompany with the ooustable, I The. natives, whilo treating Eua as a ’ I good joke, say they could not think of “lettiDg tho poor beggar starve,” ond are supplying food. A bullook was killed yesterday, and to-day Eua moans to have a real square meal of frizzled beef. Eua spoke for over an hour, and most of his pretensions provoked mirth. Other meetings are to bo held, and on Saturday tho KiDg’s non-arrival will be explained,